Multi-function towing trailer

ABSTRACT

A towing carriage includes a double H shaped frame having a longitudinal axis and a pair of parallel tubular members transverse to the longitudinal axis. A pair of angle irons are affixed longitudinally between the tubular members. An axle assembly is supported by axle supports affixed to the angle irons. The axle assembly includes a pair of wheels situated so that the tubular members straddle the wheels. A channel beam is affixed to the front tubular member with a downward facing channel opening. A tow bar is pivotably mounted within the channel opening and extends longitudinally forward toward the towing vehicle. A hitch cup is provided at the forward endd of the tow bar to mate with a trailer hitch on the towing vehicle. A pivot pin passes through the tow bar and channel beam to restrain relative rotation between the tow bar and the carriage frame. In one aspect, a pair of wheel ramps are provided with mounting posts arranged to fit within the transverse openings of the tubular members. Each of the wheel ramps includes a drive up ramp leading to a wheel well for supporting the front wheels of a vehicle to be towed. The wheel ramps can be tilted, along with the carriage frame, to a loading position when the tilt pin is removed. The frame and wheel ramps tilt automatically into a generally horizontal orientation as the towed vehicle drives up the ramp. A draw bar is provided that is rotationally mounted at its front end to the front end of the tow bar and rotationally engaged, via a universal joint, at its aft end to the towed vehicle. The draw bar provides lateral or sway stability while accomodating relative movement between the towed vehicle and the towing carriage when negotiating a turn. In another aspect, a utility trailer includes a pair of base halves, each having attachment posts for mating with the tubular members of the towing carriage.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 307,672,filed 2/6/89 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,897.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for towing vehicles and, inparticular, to a carriage or trailer for towing the vehicles by engagingand lifting a set of wheels of the vehicle. The invention also concernsa multi-function carriage that can be converted easily into a utilitytrailer or similar device.

Many conventional towing devices lift and pull a vehicle by hooking achain or a sling to the vehicle bumper, axle or undercarriage. Devicesof this nature are generally restricted to use by wrecker services fortowing disabled vehicles. Another typical towing device consistsprimarily of a tow bar mounted between a trailer hitch, attached to thetowing vehicle, and a mounting bracket, attached to the towed vehicle.Devices of this nature are frequently used to tow operable vehicles, forinstance, when an automobile is towed behind a recreational vehicle ortruck. In this instance, the towed vehicle is pulled behind the towingvehicle with all four wheels in contact with the ground. However,certain automobile manufacturers refuse to warrant the vehicles towed inthis manner.

An alternative type of device raises the car by supporting the front orrear wheels of the automobile off the ground. This alternative deviceincludes its own set of ground engaging wheels for providing thenecessary support for the towed vehicle. One disadvantage of thesedevices is that they provide inadequate lateral stability forside-to-side motion of the towed vehicle, particularly when negotiatinga turn. Some of these devices, such as that described in the patent toPorter, Sr., et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,857, use straps engaged aboutthe wheels to hold the wheels in place. These wheel straps are typicallycumbersome and difficult for many people, such as the handicapped orelderly, to attach. Further, there is a tendency for the straps to workloose when the towed vehicle is pulled around a corner because thevehicle wheels have a tendency to shift longitudinally and laterally asthe turn is made.

Another difficulty with many of the prior art devices is that theyinvolve fairly complicated and heavy frame structures so that it isdifficulty to maneuver the towed vehicle onto the device. In addition,many of these devices have the towing device wheels outboard of thetowed vehicle wheels, so that the towing device is relatively wide anddifficult for the driver of the towing vehicle to keep on the road.Another problem of the prior art towing devices is that complicatedmechanisms are provided for steering of the towing device when thetowing vehicle negotiates a turn.

In view of the difficulties and limitations of the prior art towingdevices, it is desirable to provide a towing device that is lightweight,easy to control while driving, and easy to maneuver a towed vehiclethereon. It is also important that the device provide adequate lateralstability of the towed vehicle to prevent excessive sway or yaw whennegotiating a turn, yet permit longitudinal and lateral shifting of thevehicle wheels. It is also desirable that the device be lightweight,multi-functional and easy to manipulate and store.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-function towing device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a top elevational view of the towing device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 inFIG. 2 as viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the towing device taken alongline 4--4 in FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the towing device as shown in FIG. 4, with thedevice tilted to allow a towed vehicle to be driven thereon.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the towing device with a vehiclemounted thereon, and including a draw bar for providing lateral support,as in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the draw bar assembly shownin FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the towing device in anotherembodiment of the invention for use as a utility trailer.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention as illustrated therein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates.

A towing vehicle 10, such as a recreational vehicle (RV), includes atrailer hitch 11 mounted to the undercarriage of the RV. A towingcarriage or trailer 20 is engaged on the trailer hitch 11 as describedherein. The towing carriage includes a frame 21 with a tow bar 22projecting perpendicularly forward from the front end of the frame 21. Apair of wheels 23 are mounted on an axle assembly 24 which is fixed onthe frame 21. The wheels 23 are situated entirely within the lateralsides of the frame 21 for reasons described herein.

The frame 21 of the towing carriage 20 is in the shape of a double "H"with a pair of tubular members 31 and 32 straddling the wheels 23. Thetubular members 31 and 32 are equidistant from a midline ML orientedtransversely to the longitudinal axis of the carriage. A pair of angleirons 36 extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the towingcarriage 20 and are affixed to and extend between the tubular members 31and 32 inboard of the wheels 23. In the preferred embodiment, the angleirons are welded to the tubular members, as are the remaining elementsof the carriage structure. Each of the angle irons 36 includes an axlemount 37 onto which the axle assembly 24 is affixed. The axle assembly24 can be of the type commercially available as Model No. 1500 of theDexter Company of Elkhart, Ind., which has an axle embedded within arubber sleeve that provides torsional resistance to twisting of theaxle, in lieu of springs or shock absorbers in the towing carriage 20.In the preferred embodiment, the axle assembly 24 includes a pair ofstruts 25 to offset the wheel axis A to a position longitudinally aft ofthe midline ML to facilitate loading the towing carriage as explainedherein. Alternatively, a single axle may extend between the hubs of thewheels 23 in a standard fashion known in the art, provided that thewheel axis A is aft of the midline ML.

A channel beam 40 is engaged or welded to the underside of the fronttubular member 31. The channel beam 40 includes a downwardly facingchannel 41 between channel walls 41a and 41b, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.Integral from each of the channel walls are axle support plates 42 thatextend downwardly and rearwardly from the channel beam 40 to providesupport for the axle assembly 24 at the middle of the axle assembly.

The tow bar 22 is mounted between the trailer hitch and the channel beamas shown in FIGS. 1-3. The tow bar 22 includes a support segment 45 thatfits within the channel 41 of the channel beam 40. The support segment45 includes a pair of transverse openings 45a and 45b through the towbar 22. The rear end of the tow bar 22 is pivotably mounted to thechannel beam 40 by way of a pivot bolt 47 extending through the opening45a of the support segment and openings 43 through the walls 41a and41b. The pivot bolt connection is sufficiently loose to allow the towbar to rotate relative to the channel beam along a pivot axis 47apassing through the length of the bolt 47. A tilt pin 49 passes throughopenings 44 in the channel walls and opening 45b in the support segment45 at a position forward of the pivot axis 47a. When the tilt pin is soengaged, the tow bar is held against rotation about the pivot axis 47a.Conversely, the two bar is allowed to pivot when the tilt pin isremoved.

The support segment 45 of the tow bar 22 extends forward into a gooseneck segment 51 onto which a tie down ring 53 is attached. The gooseneck segment extends into a hitch segment 55 that terminates in a hitchcup 56 for engaging the trailer hitch 11 of the towing vehicle 10. Thehitch segment 55 also includes a mounting ball 58 projecting verticallyupward from the hitch segment, for use as described herein. The gooseneck segment 51 between the hitch segment and the support segment allowsthe towing carriage 20 to be situated more closely to the ground thanthe rear bumper of the towing vehicle 10. This is a benefit when thetowed vehicle is situated on the towing carriage 20 so that the loadingangle is shallow and the towing angle is as low as possible to preventthe rear bumper of the towed vehicle from contacting the ground.

In its use as a vehicle towing device, the towing carriage 20 includesleft and right wheel ramps 60 that are removably engaged with the frame21. Each wheel ramp 60 includes a wheel well 61 which support the frontwheels of the towed vehicle, and an inclined drive up ramp 62. Somelateral restraint for the towed vehicle wheels are provided by theoutboard walls 63 and the inboard walls 64 of the wheel ramps 60. Awheel stop 65 is provided at the front end of the wheel ramps to preventthe vehicle from being driven over the end of the wheel ramps 60. Eachof the wheel ramps 60 includes a pair of spaced apart mounting posts 67,extending through the inboard walls 64 of the ramps. In the preferredembodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the mounting posts extend underneath orform part of the wheel well 61 to provide additional support for thefront and rear portions of the wheel well. The longitudinal spacing ofthe mounting posts 67 corresponds to the orientation of the tubularmembers 31 and 32.

The mounting posts 67 are inserted into the open ends of the tubularmembers 31 and 32 until openings 68 in the mounting posts are alignedwith openings 33 in the top and bottom walls of the tubular members 31and 32. Locking pins 69 are inserted through the openings 33 and theopening 68 in the mounting posts 67 to couple the wheel ramps 60 to thecarriage 20. In the preferred embodiment, each of the mounting posts hasa cross-section only slightly smaller than the openings in the tubularmemebrs to provide a snug fit between the components.

The towing carriage 20 of the present invention may be quickly andeasily disassembled into small, easy to store components. The tow bar 22can be removed from the channel beam 40 by removing the tilt pin 49 andpivot bolt 47. The wheel ramps 60 can be removed by pulling the fourlocking pins 69 and sliding the mounting posts 67 from the front andrear tubular members 31 and 32. In the preferred embodiment, the tubularmembers 31 and 32 and the tow bar 22 are composed of 21/2 inch squaresteel tubing. The frame 21 of the towing carriage 20 is approximately 46inches wide and 30 inches long. The length of the tow bar 22 can bevaried depending upon the front end length of the automobile to betowed, as well as the external features of the towing vehicle 10. In thepreferred embodiment, all of the components are composed of steel orstainless steel.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, one aspect of the present invention isas illustrated that allows for easy loading and unloading of a vehicleonto the towing carriage. In the normal towing configuration, as shownin FIG. 4, the pivot bolt 47 and tilt pin 49 retain the frame 21 of thetowing carriage, as well as the wheel ramps connected thereto, in agenerally horizontal arrangement. When the tilt pin 49 is removed, asshown in FIG. 5, the frame 21 and wheel ramp 60 are free to tilt untilthe rear edges of the drive up ramps 62 contact the ground. Since thecenter of gravity of the frame 21 and wheel ramps 60 is behind the pivotbolt 47, the frame will automatically tilt once the tilt pin 49 isremoved. In the preferred embodiment, the drive up ramps 62 nominallysubtend a loading angle of about 15° relative to the ground.

In the loading position, shown in FIG. 5, the towed vehicle (vehicle 15in FIG. 6) can be driven up the wheel ramps 60 until the wheels of thetowed vehicle are engaged within the wheel wells 61 with the front axleof the towed vehicle generally above the midline ML. Once the towedvehicle wheels are within the wheel wells, the weight of the towedvehicle naturally tilts the towing carriage frame 21 downward relativeto the channel beam 40 until the openings 43 in the channel walls 41aand 41b align with the opening 45b through the support segment 45 of thetow bar 22. With the towed vehicle wheels in the wheel wells, thecarriage has a tendency to pivot about the wheel axis A of the carriagewheels 23, which allows the channel beam 40 to pivot into contact withthe tow bar 22. At that time, the tilt pin 49 can be reinserted to lockthe tow bar 22 in engagement with the frame 21. When the towed vehicleis to be driven off of the towing carriage 20, the tilt pin 49 can beremoved and the vehicle driven back along the wheel ramp 60 so that theframe 21 and wheel ramps 60 tilt until the rear edge of the drive upramps 62 contact the ground.

In another aspect of the present invention, a draw bar assembly 71, asshown in FIG. 6, is included to firmly mount the towed automobile 15 onthe towing carriage 20, yet permit movement of the automobile relativeto the carriage when the towing vehicle, trailer and towed vehicle aresteered around a corner. The draw bar assembly 71 includes a pivot bar73 that terminates at its forward end in a mounting cup 74. The mountingcup 74 fits over the mounting ball 58 on the hitch segment 55 of the towbar 22. The pivot bar 73 can be tubular or channel-shaped with theopening of the channel facing downwardly. The draw bar assembly 71includes a U-joint bar 75 that is adjustably connected to the pivot bar73 by a pair of pins 77, which in the preferred embodiment are L-shapedpins but may also be a bolt or other similar fastening device. TheU-joint bar 75 includes an adjustment tube 78 that fits within the tubeor channel opening of the pivot bar 73. The adjustment tube 78 includesa number of laterally extending adjustment holes 79. A pair of theadjustment holes 79 are aligned with a pair of holes in the pivot bar 73with the pins 77 extending therethrough to connect the U-joint bar withthe pivot bar.

A U-shaped bracket 81 is pivotably connected to the head 80 of theU-joint bar 75 by a U-joint pivot bolt 83 or pin. The U-shaped bracketis pivotable about the U-joint pivot 83 in a generally horizontaldirection. The U-shaped bracket 81 includes a cylindrical collar 85affixed to the rear surface of the U-shaped bracket 81. The collar 85 isadapted to fit within a pivot bracket 87, with a spindle 89 passingthrough openings in the pivot bracket and through the collar 85. A pairof cotter pins 90 at each end of the spindle 89 retain the spindleassembly in place.

The pivot bracket 87 is mounted to the automobile 15 by way of amounting brace or bracket 94 that is preferably bolted to the undersideof the automobile bumper. Fixed to the pivot bracket 87 is a tie-downloop 92 that extends downwardly from the automobile bumper when the drawbar assembly 71 is in use. A tie-down chain 96 is connected between thetie-down loop 92 and the tie-down ring 53 attached to the tow bar 22.The chain 96 provides vertical restraint to restrict the vertical motionof the towed automobile 15 when the towing carriage 20 passes over abump, for example, and also acts as a safety chain. Thus, if the balland socket connection 58 and 74 come loose, the chain 96 retains thevehicle 15 on the trailer 20.

The draw bar assembly 71 accomodates multiple degree of freedom rotationbetween the towed vehicle and the towing carriage or trailer as mayoccur when negotiating a turn or passing over a bump. The pivot bar 73can rotate about the mounting ball 58, either for vertical or horizontalrotation. The U-shaped bracket, as previously indicated, can rotate in agenerally horizontal plane about the U-joint pivot 83. Finally, thepivot bracket 87 can rotate relative to the collar 85 about the spindle89 so that the entire draw bar assembly 71 can pivot in a vertical planerelative to the vehicle 15. In one example of the use of the invention,the towed vehicle is a front-wheel drive automobile with the frontwheels being steerable and supported on the trailer 20. The towedautomobile steering is left unlocked and the vehicle placed in neutralin order to allow the towed front automobile wheels to turn slightly asthe towing carriage and towed vehicle 15 turn when rounding a corner.

Another application of the multi-functional towing carriage 20 isillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 in which the carriage is used as a utilitytrailer 101. The utility trailer 101 includes a pair of base halves 103and 104. The base halves 103 and 104 form the floor of the utilitytrailer. Each half includes a pair of attachment posts 106 and 107,respectively, that are arranged to correspond with the front and reartubular members 31 and 32 of the towing carriage frame 21. Each of thesets of attachment posts 106 and 107 are inserted into the openings ofthe tubular members 31 to support the base halves over the towingcarriage frame 21. The attachment posts 106 and 107 are inserted intothe tubular members until the inboard sides of the base halves 103 and104 contact.

Each of the base halves include a number of stake pockets 110 spacedaround the perimeter of the base. Fence stakes 111 onto which fenceslates 112 are affixed, are mounted within the stake pockets 110. Sincethe fence slats 112 extend across the entire width of the utilitytrailer, the fence slats and fence stakes provide a means to hold thebase halves 103 and 104 together. Thus, with the fence elements inposition, the base halves cannot be separated and the attachment posts106 and 107 cannot be removed from the tubular members 31 and 32. Inorder to preserve the integrity of the utility trailer, an eye 114 andhook 115 are provided between adjacent fence sections to interconnecteach of the sides of the utility trailer. In this embodiment, the towingcarriage 20 and tow bar 22 are as described above. However, the wheelramps 60 are eliminated, as well as the tie-down chain 96 and the drawbar assembly 71.

As is seen from the foregoing description, the towing carriage 20 of thepresent invention is easy to assemble and versatile in use. The towingcarriage 20 can be used to support a pair of wheel ramps 60 onto which atowed automobile 15 can be supported. Likewise, the wheel ramps 60 canbe removed and the utility trailer base halves 103 and 104 can bemounted onto the towing carriage to provide a utility trailer. Whetherthe towing carriage 20 functions as a vehicle towing device or as autility trailer, each of the elements of the towing carriage can beconveniently broken down for easy storage. Since all of the removable oradjustable components are pin-engaged, no sophisticated tools ormechanisms are required in order to assemble the carriage or in order toput the carriage to use in one of the two functions.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that allchanges and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventionare desired to be protected.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle towing apparatus for detachableconnection to a towing vehicle, comprising:a carriage having alongitudinal axis including;an elongated beam member extending inparallel with said longitudinal axis; a non-steerable wheel assemblyfixed to said beam member, said wheel assembly including a pair ofrotatable ground engaging wheels; a pair of parallel tubular membersaffixed transversely to said beam member and straddling each of saidground engaging wheels; and a channel beam affixed to a forward one ofsaid pair of tubular members, said channel beam including a downwardlyopening channel having a pair of opposing channel walls; wheelsupporting means for supporting a pair of wheels of a vehicle to betowed, said wheel supporting means including;a pair of elongated ramps,each of said pair of ramps having a wheel well at a forward portion ofsaid ramp for receiving a wheel of the towed vehicle thereon and a rearground engaging edge; and mounting means for mounting each of said pairof ramps to opposite transverse sides of said pair of tubular membersoutboard of said pair of ground engaging wheels; an elongated tow barincluding means at a forward end of said tow bar for detachably engagingthe towing vehicle; connecting means for removably connecting said towbar to said carriage with said tow bar at least partially extendingbetween said pair of channel walls, said connecting means including;aremovable pivot pin extending through a rear end of said tow bar andsaid pair of channel walls, said pivot pin defining a pivot axis aboutwhich said carriage pivots relative to said tow bar, whereby saidcarriage is pivotable about said pivot axis when said tow bar is engagedwith the towing vehicle between a loading position in which the rearedge of each of said pair of ramps engages the ground and a towingposition in which each of said pair of ramps is generally parallel withthe ground; and means for releasably securing said tow bar to saidchannel beam to prevent pivoting of said carriage relative to said towbar about said pivot axis.
 2. A vehicle towing apparatus for detachableconnection to a towing vehicle, comprising:a carriage for supporting twowheels of a vehicle to be towed; means for detachably connecting thecarriage to the towing vehicle; means for stabilizing the towed vehiclewhen supported by said carriage while permitting relative motion betweensaid carriage and the wheels of the towed vehicle and between each ofsaid two wheels, said stabilizing means including;a draw bar having aforward end and a rear end; means for removably rotationally connectingsaid forward end of said draw bar to said carriage adjacent said meansfor connecting the carriage to the towing vehicle; means, including auniversal joint, for removably rotationally connecting said rear end ofsaid draw bar to the towed vehicle when the vehicle is supported by saidcarriage.
 3. The vehicle towing apparatus of claim 2, furthercomprising:a safety chain connected between said universal joint andsaid carriage.
 4. The vehicle towing apparatus of claim 2, wherein saidcarriage includes a non-steerable wheel assembly having ground engagingwheels for supporting said carriage.